HC Deb 21 March 1912 vol 35 cc2048-9
Sir JOHN LONSDALE

asked what has been the decision of the Treasury on the question of increasing the number of national school teachers in the first grade?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am not yet in a position to add anything to my reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on 7th instant.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary if he would compare Rule 86 (a) of the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, 1910–11, with Rule 86 (a), 1911–12; if he will consider the effect of the new rule on junior assistant mistresses; why was the new rule promulgated by the Board of National Education; how many managers of Irish national schools have been compelled by the Board to issue notices of dismissal to the junior assistant mistresses because such mistresses have been instrumental in raising the average attendance from thirty-five to fifty pupils; how many junior assistant mistresses have been admitted to training and what number has been trained in each of the training colleges in Ireland; how many of these have passed the King's Scholarship Examination in the years 1910 and 1911; how many have been appointed assistant teachers, and does the new rule compel the dismissal of teachers appointed under the old rule?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have compared the rules referred to. The rule in its present form extends to schools under mistresses the requirement to appoint a fully qualified assistant when the average attendance reaches fifty. The changes in the rule were made mainly in the interests of the pupils. The managers of eighty-two schools have recently been requested to appoint assistant mistresses in the place of junior assistants. Fifty-eight junior assistant mistresses have been admitted to training, thirty-six have successfully completed their courses of training, and twenty are at present in the colleges. The number of junior assistant mistresses who passed the King's Scholarship Examination in 1910 and 1911 was fifty-one and thirty-five respectively; of these forty-five have been appointed assistant teachers. The new rule is applicable in all cases where the average attendance reaches fifty.